Industrial action debated on South Coast
By Andrew Hall
WOLLONGONG — More than 200 union delegates on April 21 and 22 met to consider the waterfront dispute. The meetings voted almost unanimously to support the resolutions of the ACTU executive in support of the MUA, to give full support to industrial action required to achieve victory, and for the immediate reinstatement of all sacked MUA members. Delegates demanded the immediate resignation or the sacking of industrial relations minister Peter Reith.
Unionists pledged to challenge industrial laws by widening the dispute if needed, although no specific actions were proposed. Concrete proposals for immediate industrial action were defeated on the grounds that it would be "undemocratic" to differ with the leadership of the MUA and ACTU.
On April 23, despite constant rain, 400 people protested against a visit by Reith to a Nowra golf club. The protesters demanded that Reith resign. Reith sneaked into the $200-a-head Liberal Party fundraiser by scuttling across the 15th hole of the golf course, surrounded by riot police. He later described the peaceful protesters "as bullies who think they are above the law".